Method for forming container racks

ABSTRACT

A method for forming an apparatus for storing and releasing containers (C 1 –C 15 ) or such substantially box-shaped storing devices, comprising at least rails ( 28 ) having thereon a series of trolleys ( 14 ) mobile on the rails, on which trolleys the containers can be carried, the rails being supported by a supporting frame ( 54 ), which supporting frame is substantially built up from a series of standard modules, while, for a location, it is determined how many containers ( 7 ) are to be potentially storable therein, after which a construction for a supporting frame is determined on the basis of the modules, which modules are subsequently packaged and transported to said location, where the construction is built up from at least the modules.

This application is the U.S. National Phase of International ApplicationNumber PCT/NL02/00254 filed on 18 Apr. 2002, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for forming an apparatus for storingand releasing containers or like substantially box-shaped storingdevices.

From practice, container racks are known in which containers can bestored. To that end, the containers are placed on trolleys, whichtrolleys can subsequently be moved over rails to displace the containerswithin the rack. In this manner, on a relatively small surface, manycontainers can be stored which, additionally, can be placed and moved inthe rack and be taken out of the rack in a simple manner. This containerrack is customarily built up by first pouring a foundation andsubsequently placing a frame thereon, manufactured from steel sections.These sections are made to length in situ and welded together to formthe desired frame.

When these known container racks are to be used in, for instance,harbors in remote places or places difficult to reach, it is oftendifficult to get the desired materials in the desired position.Additionally, there is often insufficiently qualified personnel tocorrectly build up these container racks. A further disadvantage ofthese known container racks is that building them up requires relativelymuch time and labor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a method for building up a container rackas described above, in which the disadvantages mentioned are avoided,while the advantages are maintained. To that end, a method according tothe invention is characterized by the features of claim 1.

With a method according to the present invention, for a specificlocation, on the basis of inter alia numbers of containers to beprocessed, the desired configuration for the apparatus is determinedremotely from the respective location, after which, preferably with theaid of a computer, a parts list is made of the necessary modules for therespective apparatus. Further, a foundation is calculated, which can bemanufactured in situ. The modules and trolleys to be used in theapparatus are packaged, in particular in containers, and subsequentlybrought to the desired location, where the apparatus is built up fromthe modules on the then formed foundation. Subsequently, the packages ofthe modules, in particular containers, can be used for storage andtransport of goods, at least from the location where the apparatus hasbeen built up. With such a method, in a particularly simple manner, anapparatus for storing and releasing containers or like storage devicescan be built up relatively rapidly. Additionally, immediately after theconstruction, storage and transport capacity are present, in particularwhen standard containers have been used for transport of the modules.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, a method according to theinvention is further characterized by the features of claim 8.

What is obtained with such a method is an arrangement of at least twocontainer racks, such that they can be very easily approached with aminimum of auxiliary means and a minimum of required space. Optionally,the means for moving the containers may already be used when building upthe construction.

The invention further relates to a method for loading and unloadingcontainers or like storing devices, characterized by the features ofclaim 9.

With such a method, in a particularly simple and suitable manner,containers can be stored in container racks and be located in order tobe taken out. This means that from one or more central locations, truckscan simply be directed to suitable container positions for delivering orpicking up specific containers, based on the position indicationnumbers. Preferably, such a method is carried out practicallyautomatically with the aid of a computer.

The invention further relates to an apparatus comprising a series ofcontainer racks and a computer, characterized by the features of claim11.

Such an apparatus offers the advantage that in a particularly simple andpractical manner, containers can be stored in and removed from containerracks on the basis of container positions recorded in the computer andthe identification numbers of the containers already positioned or to bepositioned therein. Such an apparatus offers great logistic advantages.Additionally, for the identification numbers of the differentcontainers, use can be made of means already present in the containers,for international positioning systems such as GPS. It is preferred thatthe container positions, at least the trolleys, are provided with meansfor communication with the computer, such that, at all times, theposition of each trolley within the container racks can be determined,while operating means for moving the trolleys can be controlled with theaid of the computer. Thus, the use of such an apparatus is simplifiedstill further.

In the further subclaims, further advantageous embodiments of a methodand apparatus according to the invention are described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In elucidation, exemplary embodiments of a method and apparatusaccording to the present invention will be further explained on thebasis of the drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGS. 1 a–1 e schematically show a part of a container rack according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 shows, in side view, the part of the container rack according toFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows, in side view, the end of a path of a container rackaccording to FIGS. 1 and 2 with a trolley thereon;

FIG. 4 shows, in front view, a transverse guiding of the container rackaccording to FIG. 8;

FIG. 5 shows, in perspective view, a part of a number of modules forbuilding up an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 6 schematically shows, in top view, a trolley on a number of railsaccording to the invention;

FIG. 7 schematically shows, in top view, a part of an apparatusaccording to the invention;

FIG. 8 schematically shows, in side view, a part of a rail as shown inFIG. 3, in an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 9 schematically shows, in side view, a part of a container rackaccording to the invention;

FIG. 10 shows, in a view along the line X—X of FIG. 9, a part of acontainer rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this description, the starting point is the structure of an apparatusfor storing, transporting and removing containers or like storing deviceas described in Dutch patent 1012682 and the corresponding internationalpatent application PCT/NL00/00518, which publications are understood tobe incorporated herein by reference. Naturally, with a method accordingto the present invention, other types of container racks or the like canbe built up. Identical or corresponding parts have identical orcorresponding reference numerals.

In FIGS. 1 a–1 e, a unit 2 of container arrangement positions C_(x) withcontainers C1–C15 is shown, with one empty container arrangementposition E. The containers C1–C15 are arranged in two rows, 4, 6,parallel to each other. In side view, the two rows 4, 6 show aninclination relative to each other, the angle of inclination beingrepresented, for clarity's sake, in an exaggerated manner in FIG. 2.Each container C1–C15 is positioned on the upper surface 22 of a trolley14, a blocking cam 24 being provided for blocking the container. Thetrolley 14 is carried on rails 28 with the aid of wheels,bearing-mounted about horizontally extending axes 18, while adjacentlydisposed trolleys 14 are kept at a mutual distance from each other byshock elements 46. With the aid of the trolleys 14, the containersC1–C15 can be ridden over the rails 28 to the lower end thereof,parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rows 4, 6, as indicated byfirst arrows K. From the position shown in FIG. 1 a, the first containerC1 can be moved in the direction L, at right angles to the longitudinaldirection of the rails 28, to the empty container arrangement positionE. To that end, with the aid of wheels 40, vertically adjustable viapiston-cylinder assemblies 34, 38, carried in trestles 36, and rotatableabout horizontal axes 42 extending parallel to the rails 28, the trolley14, on which the first container C₁ rests, is lifted off the rails 28with the wheels 16, as is indicated in FIG. 4. A series ofpiston-cylinder assemblies 34, 38 with wheels 40 extends in thedirection of the arrow L, while in the bottom side of the trolley 14,grooves 44 are provided, in which the wheels can be guided. By moving upthe wheels 40 situated farthest from the empty container arrangementposition, over the largest distance possible, an angle of inclination αis obtained between the trolley 14 and the container C₁, so that thetrolley, guided by the grooves 44 and the wheels 40, will ride to theempty container arrangement position E, as shown in FIG. 1 b. Then, inFIG. 1 on the right side of the top row 4, an empty containerarrangement position E is obtained. The trolley 14 is brought back onthe rails 28 of the respective row 6 on the lower right side in FIG. 1b, by returning the respective piston-cylinder assemblies 34, 38 to aretracted position, so that the wheels 40 are pulled from the grooves 44and the wheels 16 rest on the respective rails 28. When the trolleys 14of the containers C2–C8 as shown in FIG. 1 b are released, as a resultof the angle of inclination β of the rails 28 of the first row 4 and thesecond row 6 of containers C, these containers will move down one placein the direction of the lower end 10 of row 4, so that the emptycontainer arrangement position E is situated in the left upper positionin FIG. 1 c, next to the last container C9 in the second row 6.Subsequently, in a comparable manner, the container C9 can be moved tothe empty container arrangement position mentioned, behind the lastcontainer C8 in the first row 4, as shown in FIG. 1 d, after whichcontainers C1 and C15−C10 can each move down one place in the directionof the lower end 11 of the second row 6. In this manner, the containersC1–C15 can be rotated on the sixteen container arrangement positions inthe rows 4, 6. Containers C can be released in a simple manner from thefirst and/or the second row, for instance near the ends of therespective rows 4, 6. Additionally, when fewer than fifteen containersare present in the sixteen arrangement positions, containers can beadded on empty trolleys 14. For the construction of the rails, trolleys,piston-cylinder assemblies and the like, as well as for the furtherelaboration of the earlier described rotation system of the containersC1–C15 and the empty container arrangement position E, specificreference is made to the earlier mentioned Dutch patent 1013683 and theinternational patent application PCT/NL00/00518, incorporated herein byreference.

According to the invention, a container rack 50 according to theinvention, as schematically shown in side and top plan view in FIGS. 9and 10, is of modular design, the modules being designed such that theirparts can be stored in standard containers, such as ISO-containers,standard sea containers and/or the like, in particular in containers Cwith dimensions such as can be stored in the container racks 50 whichcan be built up with the modules. This holds true for the rails 28 andcarrier constructions 52 therefor, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, aswell as for the trolleys 14, as schematically shown in FIG. 6, but alsofor the construction of frames 54, as will be further elucidated on thebasis of FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 5 shows two rail sections 28 a, 28 b, which, near their ends, areprovided with flanges 56, with which they can be fixed to a trestle 58in a simple manner, for instance with the aid of bolts and nuts throughholes 60. The trestles 58 can, for instance, be screwed onto foundationplates 62, which foundation plats 62 can be anchored to the ground 64,but also to beams of the frame 54. The rail segments 28 a, b havelengths which fit within the containers C.

According to the invention, a trolley 14 can be built up from modules 14a–14 c, as represented in FIG. 6, which modules each have dimensionssuch that they can be stored in the containers C, which modules canalready be provided with wheels 16, shock elements 46 and the like. Theupper surfaces 22 of the modules 14 thus form the desired arrangementposition for a container C.

As is schematically shown in FIG. 8, each trolley 14 can be providedwith a first sensor 64, for instance on the bottom side facing the rail28, while near the rail 28 a second sensor 66 is disposed, for instancenear a bottom end 11 thereof. When the trolley 14 with the stop block 46rests against an end stop 13 of the rail 28, the first sensor 64 and thesecond sensor 66 are situated opposite each other, such that the firstsensor 64 can be detected by the second sensor 66, for instance forgiving a position identification number. Thus, the trolley 14 isidentifiable by the second sensor 66. As is shown in FIG. 7, the secondsensor 66 is coupled to a central control unit 68, for instance acomputer, in which it can be accurately monitored in which locationwithin which unit 2 the respective trolley 14 is located. Further, inthe central control unit 68, it is recorded which container C is placedon the respective trolley 14. Thus, it is achieved that the location ofeach container C within a container rack 50 is centrally recorded. Whena truck 70 reports at the central control unit 68 to pick up a containerCn, the truck 70 can be automatically directed to the correct unit 2,while, additionally, the respective container Cn can be moved in thatunit 2 to a position for release near an end of a row 4, 6, in theearlier described manner. With a container crane or a like suitableremoval means, positioned between two container racks 50, the respectivecontainer Cn can be removed and placed on the respective truck 70. In acomparable manner, a truck with a container C can be directed by thecentral control unit 68 to a unit 2 for disposing therein, with thecontainer crane 72, the container supplied by the truck 70. Thus, aparticularly simple, practically automatic logistic system is obtained.It is preferred that the container crane 72 is also controlled by thecentral control unit 68.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, in side and top view along the line X—X of FIG. 9, apart of a container rack 50 according to the invention is shown. On thebasis thereof, the structure thereof will be described.

FIG. 10 shows, in top plan view, three container arrangement units 2, inthis embodiment each provided with sixteen container arrangementpositions C_(x) with fifteen trolley 14. The container arrangementpositions C_(x) are disposed in two rows 4, 6 within the unit 2, and canbe controlled in the earlier described manner.

Each unit 2 comprises a frame 54, built up from a central part 74 andtwo end parts 76. In the embodiment shown, the central part 74 comprisessix uprights 78, mutually connected near their top ends by girders 80extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rows 4, 6, andsecond girders 82, extending at right angles thereto. Thus, inprinciple, a self-supporting portal construction is obtained.Optionally, between the first and/or second girders 80, 82, floors,further bearing girders or the like can be supported, on which rails 28,piston-cylinder assemblies 34, 38 and the like can be supported.Naturally, these can also be supported on the first and/or the secondgirders 80, 82. The uprights 78 and the girders 80, 82 are standardmodules, for instance standard profiles with suitable coupling flanges,so that these can be fixed against each other with the aid of techniquesknown per se, for instance welds, bolt connections, riveted joints orthe like. The uprights and girders have lengths such that they caneasily be stored in the containers C.

As is clear from FIG. 9, the load bearing capacity of the uprights 78and girders 80, 82 decreases according as a higher level V₁–V₄ of thecontainer rack 50 is built up therewith. In FIG. 9, four levels V₁–V₄are shown. It will be clear, however, that also different numbers oflevels can be provided. Each portal-shaped central part 74 is calculatedsuch that it can support the levels V with units 2, filled withcontainers C, resting thereon. The end parts 76 are built up fromconsiderably lighter uprights 84 and girders 86, 88, so that arelatively simple, light construction is obtained. These uprights 84 andgirders 86, 88 are also designed as standard modules and can be storedin a container C, which can be stored in a container rack 50 accordingto the invention.

The construction of a container rack 50 according to the inventionshould preferably be carried out as follows:

A top level V₄ is built up, from a central part 74 and end parts 76, inwhich a unit 2 is constructed. Subsequently, this level V₄ is pushed orlifted upwards, after which the third level V₃ is constructedunderneath, again with a portal-shaped central part 74, end parts 76 anda unit 2. The load-bearing capacity of at least the central part 74 isgreater than that of the level V₄ to be supported by it. Subsequently,these two levels V₄, V₃ are lifted and a second level V₂ is constructedunderneath the third level V₃. In this manner, at all times, a level canbe added from the bottom side. This means, moreover, that, during use,the capacity of a container rack 50 according to the invention can beadjusted, in particular extended, in a simple manner by adding an extralevel (V₀) between the ground 64 and the lower level V₁. In theembodiment shown, in particular the central parts 74 of the frame 54 areportal-shaped, with a U-shaped cross section formed by the uprights andgirders. The uprights 78 are fixed onto girders 80, 82 of an underlyinglevel V or to the ground 64 on a suitable foundation (not shown). Itwill be clear, however, that these frame parts, in particular thecentral parts 74 and/or the end parts 76, can also have a substantiallybox-shaped design, by also connecting the lower ends of the uprights 78with girders. This yields completely self-supporting frame parts whichcan be stacked onto each other.

Since the central parts 74, optionally together with the end parts 76,are at least substantially self-supporting, units 2 can be stacked ontop of each other and, subsequently, towers of units 2 can be disposednext to each other, as is, for instance, shown in FIG. 10. Additionally,these can each have a different number of levels. It will be clear thateach desired number of units 2 can be disposed on and/or next to eachother, while units 2 can also be turned so as to face each other withends 11, for instance, as is shown in FIG. 7.

Since all modules, i.e. all parts from which a container rack 50according to the invention can be built up, can be stored in standardcontainers C, in particular containers which can be used in therespective container rack 50, it can be simply calculated remotely for acontainer rack to be built how many containers it must be possible tostore therein, which modules are necessary to that end, an how itsfoundation needs to be designed, after which the suitable number ofmodules can be packaged in containers C and be transported in existinglogistic systems to the location where the container rack 50 is to beconstructed, at which location the latter can simply be assembled. Then,the containers C are able for storage and transport of goods, againwithin existing logistic systems. In this manner, considerable savingsin costs are achieved. Moreover, in the same manner, extension of thecontainer racks can be provided for in a simplemanner.

The invention is not in any way limited to the exemplary embodimentsshown in the specification and the drawings. Many variations thereon arepossible within the scope of the invention outlined by the claims.

Each unit 2, for instance, can comprise a different number of containerarrangement positions, while, further, optionally, several rows can beprovided next to each other. In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS.9 and 10, each end part 76 comprises two container arrangement positionsnext to each other, while the remaining container arrangement positionsare situated in the central part 74. It will be clear that a differentlay-out can also be here. For instance, optionally, all containerarrangement positions are provided within the central part, while in theend parts means can be provided for placing or taking out containerswhich, subsequently, can be moved to a truck or can be moved through endparts situated next to and/or above each other, with the aid of, forinstance, guide rails and elevators extending therethrough. Thus, it canbe provided that from each container arrangement position C_(x), arespective container can be brought to a central take-out location orcan be brought from these take-out locations to a random or specificcontainer arrangement position Cx within the container rack 50. Further,other means can be provided for moving containers within the units 2and/or the container racks 50. For instance, the trolleys 14 can rest,with their lower side, on roller tracks instead of on rails, while thewheels 16 of the trolley 14 can be omitted. Also, in lighterembodiments, optionally slide rails with sliding trolleys can beprovided. To locate containers with the aid of a central control unit,use can be made of already existing localization systems for containers,such as, for instance, GPS-based systems, with which, in a simplemanner, the location of each container within the respective containerrack can be determined. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the rails 28of the rows 4, 6 have identical, fixed angles of inclination. It will beclear that this angle of inclination can be chosen in a simple mannerdepending on the container to be placed, while it can also be designedto be adjustable, so that speeds of movement of the containers can becontrolled in a simple manner. In or near the rails and/or on thetrolleys, simple means can be provided for slowing down, blocking andreleasing the trolleys. A container rack according to the invention canalso be built up in a traditional manner, from bottom to top.

In this description, container racks are shown and described for usewith containers, in particular standard containers such asISO-containers, sea containers and the like. It will be clear, however,that container racks according to the invention can also be simplydesigned for storing and releasing different containers such as mediumbulk containers, crates, boxes and the like, for instance in storagerooms.

These and many comparable variations are understood to fall within thescope of the invention outlined by the claims.

1. A method for forming an apparatus for storing and releasingcontainers or like substantially box-shaped storing devices, theapparatus comprising at least rails having thereon a series of trolleysmovable on said rails, on which trolleys the containers can be carried,the rails being supported by a supporting frame, wherein the methodcomprises the steps of: remotely determining for a location, how manycontainers are to be potentially storable in the apparatus; remotelydetermining a suitable number of standard modules required forconstruction of a supporting frame for the apparatus; packaging thedetermined number of standard modules; transporting said modules to saidlocation; and constructing said supporting frame for the apparatus fromat least the modules at said location.
 2. A method according to claim 1,wherein the number of containers is entered in a computer, whichcomprises data about the respective modules as well as about at leaststatic and dynamic loads occurring in devices of said type, the computerbeing designed to calculate the desired construction and the number ofmodules necessary therefor, on the basis of said number, the dataconcerning the modules and the expected static and dynamic load, afterwhich a parts list is determined for the required construction.
 3. Amethod according to claim 2, wherein said parts list is drawn up by saidcomputer.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the modules arepackaged and transported to said location in standard containers whichare to be stored in the apparatus.
 5. A method according to claim 1,wherein, at said location, a foundation is formed, while attachmentpoints are calculated for the modules on the basis of the calculatedconstruction.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein, on the basis ofthe expected number of containers to be stored in the respectiveconstruction, the necessary number of trolleys is determined, whichtrolleys are transported to said location, preferably in standardcontainers, optionally in parts.
 7. A method according to claim 1,wherein said construction is built up, while a container crane ismoveably disposed such that it is mobile along at least one input sideof the construction.
 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein at leasttwo constructions are built up at said location, which constructions aredisposed facing each other with an input side, such that therebetween acorridor is kept free in which transport units for said containers canbe driven, while containers can be lifted from the constructions ontosaid transport units, and containers can be lifted off said transportunits into said constructions.
 9. A method according to claim 1, furthercomprising the steps of loading and unloading containers or like storingdevices, wherein rows or container racks are disposed, wherein avehicle, when approaching the container racks, is assigned at least oneposition indication number, corresponding to at least one containerposition, after which the vehicle is driven to said container positionand a container is brought from the vehicle into said container positionor a container is brought from said container position onto saidvehicle.
 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said positionindication number is assigned by a computer, and wherein anidentification number of each container in a container position in thecontainer racks, is recorded in the computer, said identification numbercorresponding to its location in the container racks, on the basis ofwhich the container identification number is assigned.
 11. An apparatuscomprising a series of container racks and a computer, means beingprovided for assigning computer-stored identification numbers tocontainers to be received in container positions of the container racks,positioning means being provided for taking out containers from acontainer rack or positioning a container in a container rack on thebasis of an identification number.
 12. An apparatus according to claim11, wherein each container rack comprises a series of trolleys, mobilewithin the container rack, means being provided for monitoring, with theaid of the computer, the position of the trolleys within the containerrack, coupled to an identification number of a container possibly loadedon the trolley and control means for controlledly directing a specifictrolley to a releasing device.